Confirmed that the US Army have stopped ordering the M7 and all current and future orders will be the XM8.
M7 rifles will still be produced for special orders and for the commercial market.
The XM8/M8 will arrive to the commercial market in 18-24 months.
Talked to them at SOF Week to confirm all of this information.
This was at SOF Week at the L3Harris booth for all you military industrial complex nerds.
So to give a rundown. This is what L3Harris considers to be their budget offering for units that cannot afford the NGAL and also their way of “modernizing” the ATPIAL. Some points that were discussed.
- The IR illumination bezel gives way more adjustments from a tight beam to a more generous flood compared to the widest beam setting on the first ATPIAL.
- That illuminator bezel is a complete metal construction.
- I asked if there was any internal upgrades or changes besides the VSCEL diodes and the answer is no.
- The cost of the unit is aimed to be the same price of the current ATPIAL. Reason why there is no other internal changes.
- Vis laser changed from the color red to green.
Let me know if y’all have any questions on it!